Analysis Water Drainage System Water which accumulates on deck while fishing is drained into the bilge through holes in the well deck planking (seePhoto3). The inch holes, distributed at intervals on the well deck, are considered, from experience by the owner/ operator, to be adequate to drain water encountered during normal fishing operations. The deck drainage system may work adequately when handling lobsters or shellfish. During the occurrence, with a dense load of herring on deck, the fish covered the small and widely spaced drain holes. This prevented a large quantity of shipped seawater from getting down to the bilges, where it could be pumped out. Drained bilge water is normally pumped over the side by an electric, automatic, submersible bilge pump, model Rule3700GPH (seePhoto4). It is installed aft of the main engine, secured near the bottom of the hull at one side of the propeller shaft tunnel. When the electric bilge pump cannot cope with the inflow of water, a gasoline-powered pump, model HondaWN20, located in the wheelhouse, is used to pump the bilges of excess seawater (seePhoto5a). One side of the lifting cradle for the once-portable Honda pump had been removed and the unit is wedged tight onto the deck, inside of the rear bulkhead of the wheelhouse. The pump's gasoline engine exhausts directly into the wheelhouse, where fuelling of the unit by hand also takes place. This poses the risk of asphyxiating the operator conning the vessel and/or causing a fire within the compartment. Portable Centrifugal Pump Honda portable pumps (seePhoto5b) have given rise to safety issues in the past, as referenced by TSB investigations M97M0005 and M97N0099.3 Due to their dissimilar metal components, and galvanic corrosion problems, these pumps are not recommended for use with sea water. A Ship Safety Bulletin (SSB98-04) was issued by TC relating to the suitability of portable pumping equipment for the marine environment. The owner/operator reported having heard of Ship Safety Bulletins, but had never received one. Herring on Deck Of the 9tonnes of herring brought on board the Alain-Jose, only 7.5percent of the total catch was contained in secured fish boxes (seePhoto6). The bulk of the herring (8.4tonnes) was loose on deck, free to move as the vessel pitched and rolled. Unlike some other open-decked herring boats, the deck of the Alain-Jose is not equipped with portable wooden pen boards, which are slid into verticalstanchions attached to the deck and at the perimeter of the well deck. These pen boards are arranged such as to divide the well deck both longitudinally and transversely into small penned areas to contain the catch, thus dramatically reducing the movement of the herring on deck. Had such an arrangement been used on the Alain-Jose, it would have increased the vessel's stability and improved its behaviour at sea. At a very low freeboard of about 30cm, the vessel had poor stability and little reserve buoyancy. The free movement of fish, worsened by shipped sea water over the well deck, threatened to capsize or founder the vessel. Taking Water When a wave washed over the stern of the Alain-Jose, onto the well deck, an attempt was made by the crew to shovel some of the fish over the side, but without success. The gasoline-powered pump in the wheelhouse was started, but reportedly, there was no water in the bilge to pump and the unit was shut down. The accumulated water on deck was impeded from draining by the mass of fish covering the drain holes in the deck planking. The water on deck combined with the herring to form a fluid deck load, rendering the Alain-Jose unstable. When the vessel broached after the first wave, the fish moved to the starboard side, causing the vessel to list and allowing more waves to wash over the starboard rail and swamp the vessel. Vessel's Fitness for Intended Use To achieve seaworthiness, a vessel must be sufficient in its material, construction and equipment to meet the rigours of its intended service. CapeIsland type fishing vessels were originally designed to carry relatively small loads with adequate freeboard. In recent years, Cape Island type vessels, such as Alain-Jose, have been engaged in fisheries for which they were not originally designed, encouraging them to carry heavier deck loads, causing reduced freeboards, resulting in lower margins of safety in rough weather. Also, design features, such as deck drainage systems, which may have worked effectively in a particular type of fishery, can have a detrimental impact upon a vessel's safety or fitness for its intended use in another type of fishery. The Alain-Jose and similar vessels under 15gross tons are not required to submit stability data for approval by TC either when newly built, or when they change to operate in a different type of fishery with increased loads. Consequently, an operator may not be aware that the increase in load, with corresponding decrease in freeboard, may place the vessel in a condition unfit for its intended use, resulting in the vessel being overwhelmed by the sea. The Alain-Jose carried an excessive load of herring on the open deck after fishing during worsening weather conditions. The vessel had a low freeboard, and water shipped over the stern combined with the unpenned fish on deck, caused the vessel to become unstable, list to starboard and be swamped. The drainage system was not adequate for clearing water from the open well deck when loaded with bulk herring.Findings as to Causes and Contributing Factors The Alain-Jose carried an excessive load of herring on the open deck after fishing during worsening weather conditions. The vessel had a low freeboard, and water shipped over the stern combined with the unpenned fish on deck, caused the vessel to become unstable, list to starboard and be swamped. The drainage system was not adequate for clearing water from the open well deck when loaded with bulk herring. The gasoline-operated bilge pump exhausted into the wheelhouse and the fuel filling spout was also within the compartment. The gasoline-driven pump is of a type not recommended for use with sea water. Owners of Cape Island type fishing vessels may be unaware that loading heavier catches, with corresponding decreases in freeboard, may place the vessel in a condition unfit for its intended purpose. The crew was not wearing lifejackets.Findings as to Risks The gasoline-operated bilge pump exhausted into the wheelhouse and the fuel filling spout was also within the compartment. The gasoline-driven pump is of a type not recommended for use with sea water. Owners of Cape Island type fishing vessels may be unaware that loading heavier catches, with corresponding decreases in freeboard, may place the vessel in a condition unfit for its intended purpose. The crew was not wearing lifejackets. Ship Safety Bulletins, which contain important safety information, were not received by the owner/operator. There are no required stability standards for vessels of this size and design.Other Findings Ship Safety Bulletins, which contain important safety information, were not received by the owner/operator. There are no required stability standards for vessels of this size and design. Safety Action Action Taken Transport Canada - In November 2002, a discussion paper on Proposed Draft Stability Requirements was circulated at the Canadian Marine Advisory Council, for review and comment, with regard to regulatory revision, requiring some form of stability assessment for all fishing vessels. Attention is being directed at fishing vessels of less than 15gross tons and of open type construction. New proposals are put forward, addressing, stability and associated seaworthiness issues such as overloading, stowage of loose cargo, downflooding and watertight integrity, reserve buoyancy and drainage. In partnership with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO), Transport Canada and stakeholders, discussions are underway with respect to the possibility of distributing safety related material, such as Ship Safety Bulletins, using the DFO database of fishing vessel licence holders. This report concludes the TSB's investigation into this occurrence. Consequently, the Board authorized the release of this report on 10April2003. 1. Units of measurement in this report conform to International Maritime Organization standards or, where there is no such standard, are expressed in the International System of units. 2. All times are Atlantic daylight time (Coordinated Universal Time minus three hours) unless otherwise noted. 3. M97M0005 - Scotia Gold, M97N0099 - Petrolab